Chapter 1.VI. Irene in the Palace of Adrian di Castello.
As the Cyprian gazed on the image in which he had embodied a youth of
dreams, what time the living hues flushed slowly beneath the marble, - so
gazed the young and passionate Adrian upon the form reclined before him,
re-awakening gradually to life. And, if the beauty of that face were not
of the loftiest or the most dazzling order, if its soft and quiet character
might be outshone by many, of loveliness less really perfect, yet never was
there a countenance that, to some eyes, would have seemed more charming,
and never one in which more eloquently was wrought that ineffable and
virgin expression which Italian art seeks for in its models, - in which
modesty is the outward, and tenderness the latent, expression; the bloom of
youth, both of form and heart, ere the first frail and delicate freshness
of either is brushed away: and when even love itself, the only unquiet
visitant that should be known at such an age, is but a sentiment, and not a
passion!
"Benedetta!" murmured Irene, at length opening her eyes, unconsciously,
upon him who knelt beside her, - eyes of that uncertain, that most liquid
hue, on which you might gaze for years and never learn the secret of the
colour, so changed it with the dilating pupil, - darkening in the shade,
and brightening into azure in the light:
"Benedetta," said Irene, "where art thou? Oh, Benedetta! I have had such
a dream."
"And I, too, such a vision!" thought Adrian.
"Where am I?" cried Irene, rising from the couch. "This room - these
hangings - Holy Virgin! do I dream still! - and you! Heavens! - it is the
Lord Adrian di Castello!"
"Is that a name thou hast been taught to fear?" said Adrian; "if so, I will
forswear it."
If Irene now blushed deeply, it was not in that wild delight with which her
romantic heart motive foretold that she would listen to the first words of
homage from Adrian di Castello. Bewildered and confused, - terrified at
the strangeness of the place and shrinking even from the thought of finding
herself alone with one who for years had been present to her fancies, -
alarm and distress were the emotions she felt the most, and which most were
impressed upon her speaking countenance; and as Adrian now drew nearer to
her, despite the gentleness of his voice and the respect of his looks, her
fears, not the less strong that they were vague, increased upon her: she
retreated to the further end of the room, looked wildly round her, and
then, covering her face with her hands, burst into a paroxysm of tears.
Moved himself by these tears, and divining her thoughts, Adrian forgot for
moment all the more daring wishes he had formed.
"Fear not, sweet lady," said he, earnestly: "recollect thyself, I beseech
thee; no peril, no evil can reach thee here; it was this hand that saved
thee from the outrage of the Orsini - this roof is but the shelter of a
friend! Tell me, then, fair wonder, thy name and residence, and I will
summon my servitors, and guard thee to thy home at once."
Perhaps the relief of tears, even more than Adrian's words, restored Irene
to herself, and enabled her to comprehend her novel situation; and as her
senses, thus cleared, told her what she owed to him whom her dreams had so
long imaged as the ideal of all excellence, she recovered her self-
possession, and uttered her thanks with a grace not the less winning, if it
still partook of embarrassment.
"Thank me not," answered Adrian, passionately. "I have touched thy hand -
I am repaid. Repaid! nay, all gratitude - all homage is for me to render!"
Blushing again, but with far different emotions than before, Irene, after a
momentary pause, replied, "Yet, my Lord, I must consider it a debt the more
weighty that you speak of it so lightly. And now, complete the obligation.
I do not see my companion - suffer her to accompany me home; it is but a
short way hence."
"Blessed, then, is the air that I have breathed so unconsciously!" said
Adrian. "But thy companion, dear lady, is not here. She fled, I imagine,
in the confusion of the conflict; and not knowing thy name, nor being able,
in thy then state, to learn it from thy lips, it was my happy necessity to
convey thee hither; - but I will be thy companion. Nay, why that timid
glance? my people, also, shall attend us."
"My thanks, noble Lord, are of little worth; my brother, who is not unknown
to thee, will thank thee more fittingly. May I depart?" and Irene, as she
spoke, was already at the door.
"Art thou so eager to leave me?" answered Adrian, sadly. "Alas! when thou
hast departed from my eyes, it will seem as if the moon had left the night!
- but it is happiness to obey thy wishes, even though they tear thee from
me."
A slight smile parted Irene's lips, and Adrian's heart beat audibly to
himself, as he drew from that smile, and those downcast eyes, no
unfavourable omen.
Reluctantly and slowly he turned towards the door, and summoned his
attendants. "But," said he, as they stood on the lofty staircase, "thou
sayest, sweet lady, that thy brother's name is not unknown to me. Heaven
grant that he be, indeed, a friend of the Colonna!"
"His boast," answered Irene, evasively; "the boast of Cola di Rienzi is, to
be a friend to the friends of Rome."
"Holy Virgin of Ara Coeli! - is thy brother that extraordinary man?"
exclaimed Adrian, as he foresaw, at the mention of that name, a barrier to
his sudden passion. "Alas! in a Colonna, in a noble, he will see no merit;
even though thy fortunate deliverer, sweet maiden, sought to be his early
friend!"
Thou wrongest him much, my Lord," returned Irene, warmly; "he is a man
above all others to sympathize with thy generous valour, even had it been
exerted in defence of the humblest woman in Rome, - how much more, then,
when in protection of his sister!"
"The times are, indeed, diseased," answered Adrian, thoughtfully, as they
now found themselves in the open street, "when men who alike mourn for the
woes of their country are yet suspicious of each other; when to be a
patrician is to be regarded as an enemy to the people; when to be termed
the friend of the people is to be considered a foe to the patricians: but
come what may, oh! let me hope, dear lady, that no doubts, no divisions,
shall banish from thy breast one gentle memory of me!"
"Ah! little, little do you know me!" began Irene, and stopped suddenly
short.
"Speak! speak again! - of what music has this envious silence deprived my
soul! Thou wilt not, then, forget me? And," continued Adrian, "we shall
meet again? It is to Rienzi's house we are bound now; tomorrow I shall
visit my old companion, - tomorrow I shall see thee. Will it not be so?"
In Irene's silence was her answer.
"And as thou hast told me thy brother's name, make it sweet to my ear, and
add to it thine own."
"They call me Irene."
"Irene, Irene! - let me repeat it. It is a soft name, and dwells upon the
lips as if loath to leave them - a fitting name for one like thee."
Thus making his welcome court to Irene, in that flowered and glowing
language which, if more peculiar to that age and to the gallantry of the
south, is also the language in which the poetry of youthful passion would,
in all times and lands, utter its rich extravagance, could heart speak to
heart, Adrian conveyed homeward his beautiful charge, taking, however, the
most circuitous and lengthened route; an artifice which Irene either
perceived not, or silently forgave. They were now within sight of the
street in which Rienzi dwelt, when a party of men bearing torches, came
unexpectedly upon them. It was the train of the Bishop of Orvietto,
returning from the palace of Martino di Porto, and in their way
(accompanied by Rienzi) to that of Adrian. They had learned at the former,
without an interview with the Orsini, from the retainers in the court
below, the fortune of the conflict, and the name of Irene's champion; and,
despite Adrian's general reputation for gallantry, Rienzi knew enough of
his character, and the nobleness of his temper, to feel assured that Irene
was safe in his protection. Alas! in that very safety to the person is
often the most danger to the heart. Woman never so dangerously loves, as
when he who loves her, for her sake, subdues himself.
Clasped to her brother's breast, Irene bade him thank her deliverer; and
Rienzi, with that fascinating frankness which sits so well on those usually
reserved, and which all who would rule the hearts of their fellow-men must
at times command, advanced to the young Colonna, and poured forth his
gratitude and praise.
"We have been severed too long, - we must know each other again," replied
Adrian. "I shall seek thee, ere long, be assured."
Turning to take his leave of Irene, he conveyed her hand to his lips, and
pressing it, as it dropped from his clasp, was he deceived in thinking that
those delicate fingers lightly, involuntarily, returned the pressure?
